Handspring Says People Want Built-In Keyboards
At the CIBC World Markets investor conference yesterday, Handspring CEO Ed Colligan said his company has seen more demand for devices with built-in keyboards than it has for ones that use Graffiti, according to a report in Cnet. This has led company executives to an important decision. "We'll go forward with keyboard-based color products," Mr. Colligan said.
A built-in keyboard has been part of three of the last four products announced by Handspring. Except for the Treo 180g, the entire Treo line has one, including the just announced Treo 270 and Treo 90. According to leaked info, the CDMA version of the Treo, which the company is expected to announce soon, also has a built-in keyboard.
Apparently, Handspring isn't alone in coming to this conclusion. Sony's NR series also has a keyboard integrated into its design.
Mr. Colligan also said his company believes color screens are what customers prefer, too. The Treo 180g could be the last model Handspring releases with either a monochrome screen or a Graffiti area.
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RE: Handspring Bad
RE: Handspring Bad
Guess that leaves you out, Handspring.
RE: Handspring Good
I'm sure Hawkins, Dubinsky, and Colligan didn't make this decision on a whim. Like the article said, they did customer research and found more people prefer keyboards to Graffiti. Once they knew that, NOT making handhelds with built in keyboards would be very irresponsible.
They will get what they deserve
RE: Handspring Bad
I belive they are reacting to what customers "do" want by looking at their sales data. While I agree they should try to leave the Graffiti option available to consumers, someone new to the Palm OS has a little trouble imagining how to enter data in a Graffiti device when they are looking at PDA's in the display case.
Maybe the ideal would be making Graffiti devices and offer a cheap/free add-on keyboard like the ones that currently take advantage of Palm's "universal" connector.
Handspring Good, Fire Bad
Beavis, I think you are doing what far too many people do: assuming what you want is what everyone wants. They talked to those "potential customers" and more of them wanted keyboards so keyboards it is.
I could easily turn your arguement on its end. I want a T615C with a built in keyboard. Should I be posting angry messages because Sony won't give me what I want?
RE: Handspring Bad
RE: Handspring Bad
RE: Handspring Bad
RE: Handspring Bad
RE: Handspring Bad
So, the keyboard thing is not for us, it's for newbie.
RE: Handspring Bad
RE: Handspring Bad
RE: Handspring Bad
RE: Handspring Bad
RE: Handspring Bad
I disagree entirely. I'm certainly no newbie to PalmOS handhelds, and I'd much rather have a thumbboard than Graffiti.
Making My Next Move Clearer
That's not to say I don't engage in my share of what-iffing, daydreaming, and general window shopping.
I don't think I would buy a PDA that didn't offer some form of handwriting recognition. I don't find the keyboards a handy option when standing somewhere jotting down an appointment, and it becomes more awkward (as someone noted) to have to bounce from stylus to keyboard in some of my typical PDA settings (standing at someone's desk, in a meeting, etc.).
(This opinion was formed using an early, keyboard-based WinCE device. I know it is not the same thing, but more oranges and tangerines--I believe you'll experience many of the same quirks.)
Perhaps it is an industry trend? True, though there seem to be two schools of thought on the built-in keyboard. The Treos I've seen so far don't really have a Graffiti option. The Graffiti area is taken up by the keyboard, and the screen is, IMHO too small as it is--I couldn't imagine doing virtual Graffiti on it.
The second method is that of the Clie or the Sharp Zarus. This is to offer a screen that supports a virtual Graffiti area (or the analog in the Zarus world), but have the keyboard available (either by twisiting the screen, having a slide down area, etc.). This would provide the best of both worlds.
For me, with the trend away from being pen-based, I think I probably won't replace my Handspring with a Handspring. Of course, in two years (when it is more likely), who knows what the market will look like? Who knows what I will want.
(I do admit my bias is probably also due in part to being a pen collector, and having just gotten a Cross Matrix.)
Graffiti is NOT handwriting recognition
Graffiti is character recognition. For anyone who has used good HWR, Graffiti is still a ten-year-old band-aid for the first generation Newton.
Good HWR, like I had on my Newton 2100 is completely different. It interperted entire words, not just characters. It recognized actual roman characters instead of stroke hierogliphics. It recognized cursive. It learned my vocabulary and added it to it's built-in dictionary. It let me write notes quickly without interpertation and let me convert them later.
Since no PalmOS machine yet has the horsepower to handle a real HWR engine, (4 years ago, my 2100 had a 166mhz ARM, *way* faster than any current Palm OS device) keyboards really are the best option.
RE: Making My Next Move Clearer
I suppose, to continue the thought, the heirachy (for me) would be first true HRW, then Graffiti, then keyboard.
One thing I did like about some of the more recent Pocket PCs I've seen has been that it does both HRW and Graffiti (and swap with ease). If the HRW just wasn't working for me at that moment (perhaps I wasn't on a stable base, or I'd been drinking :) ), I could swap to a Graffiti-type system, and go at it that way.
Handspring Good
First, it gets past the "Mom factor". Yes, my mom is smart enough to learn Graffiti. But it's intimidating to her nonetheless, wheras a keyboard is very familiar.
Second, it's just easier, especially for composing longer documents. I used to use Graffiti to take notes during meetings, and compose emails, but my writing hand suffered for it. I switched to a Targus keyboard, and then a thumbboard, and am much, much happier for it.
I do agree that handwriting recognition is useful for jotting a quick note or entering a letter or two in a search field. Hopefully we'll soon move to "virtual graffiti" or PPC-style scrawl-anywhere, so we can have both a keyboard and handwriting recognition.
Actually, that reminds of me of a question: Does a hack like Graffitaid (sp?) or Jot allow you to also use Graffiti on keyboard Treo?
RE: Handspring Good
Don't drop Grafitti support
If you don't want the silkscreen, fine. But keep support for it in the OS so 3rd party on-screen grafitti enhancements will still work if you choose to use them.
RE: Don't drop Grafitti support
Flawed result...
RE: Flawed result...
RE: Flawed result...
Scott
RE: Flawed result...
So they'll alienate those of us who actually use the Palm for it's intended purpose (organization and portability, which graffiti works quite well), and in the long term won't have the capital to make a dent in the phone industry. Bad move based upon a narrow view of the market.
RE: Flawed result...
RE: Flawed result...
> version. So if the keyboard version outsold the grafitti,
> Handspring has a good case for going with keyboard
You missed the entire point to my post. All of Handspring's ads have shown the keyboard version. The only stores I've even seen the Treo in (which it doesn't seem to be in many) only have the keyboard version. So, of course they're going to sell more of the keyboard model.
RE: Flawed result...
Customers, SONY & Handspring
Thanks, Robrecht
Handspring
RE: Handspring
HELLO HELLO?
TREO 270 !
mrscarey
palmist and visionary
RE: Handspring
If you don't want wireless, the Treo 90, the Prism replacement, was introduced last month. It looks good. Color screen, keyboard, 16MB of memory, OS 4.1, all for $300.
RE: Handspring
RE: Handspring
HELLO? HELLO? According to you Handspring has no color models, other than the Prism. You're just talking about coloUr models!
=)
Maybe he got confused?
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Handspring Bad
And what about graffiti shortcuts?